Not gonna mention any names, but we've heard variations of this phrase tossed around by a few people who know the history of the Harrisburg Senators:

"Best team since 1993."

Opening Day is the time for extreme optimism.

Heck, even the Astros and Marlins are a combined 3-0 as of this writing...

But how good, really, is this Harrisburg Senators team that opens the 2014 Eastern League season tonight in Bowie?

Potentially pretty darn good.

New manager Brian Daubach opens the season with four of the Nationals' top 11 prospects (No. 2 A.J. Cole, No. 4 Matt Skole, No. 7 Michael Taylor, No. 11 Matthew Purke) on his roster, and another (No. 6 Sammy Solis) likely soon on his way once he works through a back injury that kept him at extended spring training.

Bullpen looks pretty good. Starting rotation features some high-quality talent. Offense and defense should be solid.

The 1993 team, featuring future big leaguers like Cliff Floyd, Rondell White, Curtis Pride, Miguel Batista, Ugueth Urbina and Kirk Rueter, among many others, won 94 games (94-44) and the league championship.

This team will not be that good.

But can the Senators defend their Western Division title and reach the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons?

Sure can.

Last year's group edged Erie by a game for the division (77-65) and advanced to the franchise's first EL championship since 2002, where it was swept by Trenton.

Daubach, along with new hitting coach Mark Harris and pitching coach Chris Michalak, own playoff experience, the trio directing Potomac to the Class A Carolina League playoffs last year. Daubach and Harris also helped Hagerstown to the Class A South Atlantic League playoffs in 2012.

A lot of the players who generated that success are here now. So expect a winner.

Sometimes April optimism is warranted.

STARTING PITCHERS

* RHP Blake Schwartz (13-4, 2.51 last year at Hagerstown & Potomac)

* LHP Felipe Rivero (9-7, 3.40 at Class A Charlotte)

* RHP Rob Gilliam (3-7, 4.61 at Potomac & Harrisburg)

* LHP Matthew Purke (6.4, 3.80 at Hagerstown & Potomac)

* RHP A.J. Cole (10-5, 3.60 at Potomac & Harrisburg)

Rivero, Purke and Cole are top prospects, Rivero coming over from Tampa Bay in an offseason trade that sent last year's Senators ace, Nathan Karns, to the Rays. Schwartz, meanwhile, won 13 games, which is no small feat in Minor League Baseball. Gilliam has shown some flashes, too, but he's possibly ticketed for the 'pen if/when Solis gets the call to join Harrisburg.

Michalak's take: "[Schwartz] is just a guy who gets after it. He'll pound the strike zone. If you look at the radar gun, you don't see anything that jumps out at you. But next thing you know he's still out there in the seventh, eighth inning. ... [Rivero] has very good stuff, a very live arm. He'll run it up there in the low- to mid-90s with a good breaking ball and really good changeup. ... [Gilliam's] biggest thing is fastball command. He's got plus stuff that can play at a lot of levels; it's just a matter of him commanding the fastball in the zone and being able to repeat that over and over. ... [Purke's] biggest thing last year was being healthy [after 2012 shoulder surgery]. Ball was coming out of his hand real well in spring training. Obviously he has ability to be dominant with his fastball, and the offspeed pitches are coming along. Changeup is a quality pitch. ... [Cole's] biggest thing is getting him comfortable with the breaking ball, trying to get his slider into a power wipeout pitch. Everything else you guys saw last year."

A big veteran presence with 30-year-olds Alfaro and Jackson, plus MLB vet Perry. Grace, Herron, Holland and Mirowski were big reasons why last year's Harrisburg bullpen ranked among the best in the league. Perry and Bates will open the season as the long men, the middle relievers tasked with bridging the gap between short starts and the end of the bullpen. From there, nearly anybody can save games. In fact, all eight of these guys saved at least one game last year. It will be closer-by-committee through the colder weeks of April, with Alfaro, Herron, Holland and Mirowski expected in on the action. Grace and Jackson, too, if the matchups dictate.

Michalak's take: "[Bates] has a little sink, a little slider, and he makes guys put the ball in play. ... Looking for consistency with Ryan, a consistent arm slot and consistency in the strike zone. I think he's happy to be healthy right now. ... [Alfaro] has a good, live arm. He's a durable guy. ... Gracy put up great numbers here last year, and I'm expecting the same thing from him. ... [Jackson] used to be conventional but last year started [a] submarine [delivery]. His ball got sink, and it's a tough angle on lefties. A lot of guys pounding the ball into the ground in spring training. ... [Herron] had a great winter in Puerto Rico, did well for us last year in Potomac, and I don't think he missed a beat here. Same with Neil Holland, some people may wonder why certain players are back. But this organization has shown it doesn't matter if you're in AA or AAA, you have a chance [at big league promotion]. ... Mirowski has that split, a swing-and-miss pitch."

Some uncertainty here, as Leon was on Harrisburg's roster that was released Monday, but he wasn't at Metro Bank Park Tuesday for Media Day. That's because Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was nursing a hamate injury, and Leon was potentially getting another call to the bigs. So we might have a different name here by Thursday's first game. Leon, a terrific defensive catcher and handler of pitchers, was expected to start, with Canham, a fee agent signing (like Jackson) out of Kansas City's system, as the backup.

Harris' take: "[Leon] really shortened up his stride length this winter, focused on that in spring training and swung the bat well. He needs to continue to get at-bats and make progress in that area. ... Don't know a lot about Mitch yet, but he had an outstanding spring, pulling the ball from the left side with power. Looks like a very knowledgable hitter."

View full sizeJustin Bloxom was one of the Harrisburg Senators' more consistent offensive producers during the division championship run in 2013.MARK PYNES, PennLive, 2013

Skole is expected to be the usual first baseball, with Dykstra at second and Martinson at shortstop. There will be a rotation at third base that also includes Skole, along with Hague, Nicol and possibly Bloxom, who will also fill in at first base. Nicol, as he has in the past with Harrisburg, can fill in just about anywhere. Hague can and will also play shortstop and second base. All of these guys expect Dykstra have history with the Senators, and Dykstra simply has history with the game, as he's the son of former Mets and Phillies star Lenny Dykstra. Skole was injured in the second game last year and missed the rest of the regular season, though he returned from his Tommy John surgery in time for fall ball.

Harris' take: "I've seen [Skole] make adjustments as he goes up [levels]. He's a guy who if he gets in trouble tries to get too big. I think toward the end of spring training he found out a little bit that less is better for him. He has great strike zone discipline and doesn't swing at bad pitches. ... I had Martinson half a season in Hagerstown and half a season in Potomac, and he was an all-star both times. I don't expect anything less here. The second half here was tough on him last year, but hopefully he'll learn from it. ... Ricky hit the ball as good in spring training as I've seen from him. Thing I like about both [Hague and Martinson] is tremendous work ethic. They will get to the ballpark early, will do the work, and they'll get better. ... [Dykstra] has shown signs. He steals bases, draws walks, can play three different positions, but second base is his best. He plays with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, not unlike his dad, and he can be a guy who's fun to watch play. ... [Nicol and Bloxom] not only give you a veteran presence, but you want to stay behind and push these guys. Had a few guys as an infield coordinator with Kansas City who made it after eight years in the minors, not unlike Sean Nicol. You never know when the light goes on, or somebody gets hurt, or the right opportunity happens."

View full sizeDestin Hood enjoyed a terrific season several years ago in Potomac with Mark Harris as his hitting coach. Can he repeat that success in 2014?MARK PYNES, PennLive, 2013

OUTFIELDERS

* RH Destin Hood (.224, 4 HR, 40 RBI, 5 SB at Harrisburg)

* LH Caleb Ramsey (.291, 6 HR, 58 RBI, 13 SB at Potomac)

* RH Michael Taylor (.263, 10 HR, 86 RBI, 51 SB at Potomac)

* LH Drew Vettleson (.274, 4 HR, 62 RBI, 5 SB at Charlotte)

Hood returns, but the three others are new to Harrisburg. Taylor, the center fielder, enters with heavy praise from his coaches and pretty much anybody who's seen him play. Vettleson, right fielder, came over with Rivero from Tampa in the Karns trade. Hood will likely start in left, with Ramsey getting plenty of looks, too.

Harris' take: "I have a very good relationship with [Hood], and the thing I know that will be different is his mind will be right. He has a tendency to cloud things. You see him a lot of times going to the batter's box, and he's calculating things, and when you do that, you're done. We'll think in the batting cage, but when the game starts, just play. ... I know you've seen some good [center fielders] here with Eury Perez and Brian Goodwin, but [Taylor] might be the best you've seen. I've been in pro baseball for 37 years, and with him I'm continually amazed. Big arm, too. ... I didn't think anybody would have a better throwing arm than Taylor, but [Vettleson] does. So you're going to have a plus arm in right, a plus arm in center, and the good thing about Drew is he's young with great hand-eye coordination. ... Caleb is a guy -- and this is a cliche, but you have to watch him every day to appreciate it -- who will help you win a game in some sharp, form or fashion every day. Might one day make a great catch, another getting a sac down, another hitting a two-strike single to right, and another with a three-run homer over the fence."